Vitexin, a fenugreek glycoside, ameliorated obesity-induced diabetic nephropathy via modulation of NF-κB/IkBα and AMPK/ACC pathways in mice.

Obesity is one of the most critical risk factors for diabetes mellitus and plays a significant role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). The present investigation aimed to evaluate the possible mechanism of action of vitexin on obesity-induced DN in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed experimental C57BL/6 mice model. Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by chronic administration of HFD, and mice were concomitantly treated with vitexin (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg, p.o.). HFD-induced increased renal oxido-nitrosative stress and proinflammatory cytokine levels were significantly inhibited by vitexin. The Western blot analysis suggested that alteration in renal NF-κB, IκBα, nephrin, AMPK, and ACC phosphorylation levels was effectively restored by vitexin treatment. Histological aberration induced in renal tissue after chronic administration of HFD was also reduced by vitexin. In conclusion, vitexin suppressed the progression of obesity-induced DN via modulation of NF-κB/IkBα and AMPK/ACC pathways in an experimental model of HFD-induced DN in C57BL/6J mice.